Gauteng reach 1,000 Covid-19 cases as national total climbs to 2,783 and 50 deaths

Gauteng became the first province in SA to have more than 1,000 cases of Covid-19, as the national total climbed to 2,783 by Friday evening.

In a statement, health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize also confirmed that there were two new confirmed deaths from the respiratory illness, taking the total to 50.

The new total of confirmed cases is a jump of 178 from Thursday's total of 2,605 — which was in itself a jump of 99 from Wednesday.

To date, 100,827 tests have been done, 5,767 more tests than announced the day before.

“Today we regrettably report two new Covid-19 related deaths. Both deceased are from the Western Cape,” said Mkhize in a statement.

The provinces with the most cases were Gauteng with 1,018, the Western Cape with 717 and KwaZulu-Natal with 591. The Eastern Cape has 246 confirmed cases, the Free State 100, Limpopo 26, North West 24, Mpumalanga 23, and the Northern Cape 16.

Twenty-two cases have not yet been allocated.

In terms of deaths, KZN still has the most, with 20, followed by the Western Cape with 15, Gauteng with 6, the Eastern Cape and Free State with four each, and Limpopo with just a single case.

The provincial breakdown is as follows:

GAUTENG

1018

WESTERN CAPE

717

KWAZULU – NATAL

591

EASTERN CAPE

246

FREE STATE

100

LIMPOPO

26

NORTH WEST

24

MPUMALANGA

23

NORTHERN CAPE

16

UNALLOCATED

22

Today we regrettably report 2 new COVID-19 related deaths. Both deceased are from the Western Cape. This increases the total number of deaths to 50. We convey our condolences to the families and also appreciate the health workers who were treating the deceased patients.